Percussion fuse for projectiles.



K. VL'LER. PERCUSSION FUSE POR PROJEGTILBS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1911V v 1,046,349, Patented 1590.3,1'912 WITNESSES UNITED sTATEs PA TENT oEErcE.

KAEL VLLER, oF DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, AssIGNoR To RHEINISCHE METALL- WAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABRIK, 0F DUSSELDORF-DERENDOEE; GERMANY,

A CORPORATION 0F GERMANY,

4lPllRCfU'SSIObl -FUSE FOR PBOJECTILES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL VLLEa, a sube ject of the German Emperoigresiding at 12 Scharnhorststrasse, Dusseldorf, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Percussion-Fuses for Projectiles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same.

The invention relates to a. percussion fuse, designed to act in case the impact should not be made with the point of the projectile, and provided for this purpose with more than one liring pin, pointing in different directions, and corresponding detonators According to the invention the tiring pins are connected together and held by a safety device, which is released when the gun is red. In consequence of the connection between the detonators it is not necessary to provide safety devices for every detonator.

The drawing shows the invention applied to a combination fuse for a projectile.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of one form of construction. Fig. 2 is a. cross section at the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 Ais a longitudinal section of aniodiiied construction.

In the constructions according to Figs. l and 2 the 'time fuse is arranged in the front part of the head of the combination fuse, but this part has nothing to do with the present invention and need notv be further described. Below this in the body a f the combination fuse is the percussion fuse constructed according to the present, invention. This consists of a strap b screwed into the body of the fuse, having two firing pins c and c. These two firing pins are opposite the detonators @Z and cl', whose supports e and e areconnected by the rods f, which leave suiiicient space between them for the strap 7). The detonators eand e are connected with a bolt g having a reduced part l1.. Around this part Zzare locking rings a' (Figs. l and 2), which are pressed outward by springs In the normal condition the locking rings are prevented from moving outwardby spaces Z filled with powder, against which pistons m connected to the locking rings al press. In Fig. l for the sake' of clearness, on one side the locking Specification of Letters Eatent. -P3tented 3, 1912. Application led August 25, 1911. l v I l y' Serial No. 646,002.

ring 'L' and on theotlier sidewthse spring 7c are shown in section, sothatatf,l this place the longitudinal section is, taken through two planes at right angles. [The primers Z serve as a safety device for the percussion fuse. When the projectile is fired, a detonator o (in the present case,v forming also the detonator of the time fuse)- is pierced in consequence of the release of the fuse by the initial impulse, in the example shown through the plunger n of the time fuse.

The flame produced in this 'way' strikes, after' a longer or shorter course, on the powder spaces Z andthe powder consequently burns away during the flight of the projectile. This releases the locking "rings, which under the action of the springs and the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the projectile, move outward and free the bolt g. This frees the detonators d d', which are still held in equilibrium by the springs p' and p. Owing to the reduction of the speed of the projectile at its impact the det- -onators are projected forward, and according as the projectile strikes with its forward or after part, either the detonator el is forced against the firing pin c, or the detonator d` against the firing pin c. Consequently the ignition of the fuse is insured in either case.

In the construction according to Fig. 8, the arrangement is such that an ignition is insured even if the impact should be made with the sidel of the projectile. For this purpose the detonator Q is placed on the center of a piece r, which is kept in equilibrium between two springs s and s. This piece isV surrounded on all four sides with tiring pins t', 252, t3, t", whose points are directed toward the detonator g. Before liring, the body fr is held by the pistons u', u2,

a3, a4 which rest against the powder spaces ai', n2, v3, '114. The action is the same as in the construction according to Figs. l and 2. As soon as, owing to the initial impulse on tiring, the time firing pin n has piercedthe detonator provided for it, the flame strikes through the channels to the powders o', v2, 03, at, which accordingly burn and free the detonator support r. On impact the detonator g is projected against one of the firing pins t', t2, 253, t4, according tothe part of the projectile which strikesagainst the object. In order that the tiring pms should not hinder the free movement of the detonator4 support v", they are `journaled with round ends in the fuse body, so that everyv firing pin can give in a direction at rightangles to the direction ,of approach of the support 7'.

Ielaim as my invention: Y

l. Ina vpercussion fuse for projectiles, a plurality of firing pins pointing in diierentl directions, corresponding detonating material normally held in ixed relation to the firing pins, a safety device normally holding the detonating material from engaging `with the firing ins, means for releasing the fsafety -device a er the' gun is fired to permit the detonatng material to move relatively Vto the firing pins, and springs for holding the detonating material inl equilibrinm after it is released by the safety device. Y l' y52,. In a percussion fuse for'projectiles, a

-plurality of firing pins pointing in diEerent directions, corresponding detonating mate rialv normally held in fixed relation to the firing pins, means connecting the detonating material -to form a single detonator, a

noaeaa safety device normally holding the detonatl ing material from engaging with the firing pins, means `:for releasing the safety device after the gun is fired to permit the detonating material to move relatively to the ring pins, and springs' for holding the detonating-material' in equilibrium after it is released by the safety device.

3. A percussion fuse having in combina-V tion with an initially acting detonator and 3 Witnesses: CEAS. J. WRIGHT, ALBEBTF. NUrR. 

